Home Affairs Bureau deputy secretary Jonathan McKinley confirmed that US$2 million had been given to the Hong Kong Tennis Association, which has struck a deal with the world governing body of women's tennis to stage a WTA Tier III tournament the week after next year's US Open.

I refer to your editorial ("Better access to sports venues", September 24) which questioned the extent to which the Home Affairs Bureau has responded to the recommendations made by the Ombudsman in his direct investigation of the implementation of the policy on private recreational leases.

Officials are expected to take good care of public resources and facilities. Regrettably, they have once again been put to shame by the Ombudsman, who found serious flaws in the way the city's sport venues are managed.

Unless there are plans to employ the 'build-it-in-a-flash' consortium behind the towering Sky City in Changsha, it seems our own sports hub at Kai Tak might not be completed on schedule. But even more worrying than the delay to start work on a state-of-the-art stadium and the surrounding infrastructure is that everything has gone silent in the government's corridors of power.

The community can be forgiven for assuming the government does not accord a high priority to culture. Although the city plays host to some world-renowned arts festivals each year, there is arguably no policy on culture. Its importance is reflected in the way it is handled within the government.

Young people are our city's future. We need to create an environment in which they can fully develop their potential. This is particularly important when the population is ageing fast. Whether the Hong Kong story continues to be a success story depends largely on how well we take care of the younger generation.

Appearances can be deceptive. Hong Kong's crowded, pocket-sized parks and heavily-booked sporting facilities give the impression that recreational space is in short supply. It is anything but. Within the grounds of our city's elite private clubs are any number of much-underused fields, pitches, courts, greens and alleys.

The Home Affairs Bureau is going to finance a project to build a sports complex in Tiu Keng Leng. I think it is a very good move. In a district that has a high population of teenagers, this facility will enable young people to find creative outlets for their energies. That way, more of them will stay away from street gangs.